Baseball is here!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (1 Viewer)

[sammy719]

Time to hit the ground running!!!!! in just a few weeks pitchers and catchers report to the cactus league here in Arizona!!!!! and ballgames are only 5-6 weeks away, so let's get started, I can smell the beer, burgers, dogs already, I think my Orioles if they can somehow not decinegrate after the all star break can be a competitive team as we shown in the first half of last year, still a very young team but better then last years, hopefully with the experience and a little more speed we drafted and picked up, we can be playing some good ball late in September, lookout yanks, and bosox, make room for the O-R-I-O-L-E-S!!!!!!...Sammy

 

[lancer]

As a long time Orioles fan (1966) I have no doubt that they will crash and burn once again having done nothing to improve their pitching other than dumping D. Cabrera. Where are McNally, Palmer, Cuellar, and Dobson when they are needed? -- lancer

 

[sammy719]

As a long time Orioles fan (1966) I have no doubt that they will crash and burn once again having done nothing to improve their pitching other than dumping D. Cabrera. Where are McNally, Palmer, Cuellar, and Dobson when they are needed? -- lancer

Where are tippy and dennis martinez, scotty mcgregor, mike flanagan, steve stone, tim stoddard, oh yes...the good 'ol days...Sammy

 

[tdubel]

The Orioles died when Ripken retired. Of course I am a Pirates fan first, we have been dead since Barry Bonds left, I still miss Parker, Stargell, Garner, Madlock, etc from when I was a kid. Oh it has been a drought. I use to respect the Orioles when Ripken was there, he was from my hometown, know the family well, but once he retired, my interest is zero in them. Angelos stinks and going to a game there is god awful.

At least the Pirates try to please their fans, it is always worth my trip out there, a truly great stadium and experience. As for the O's, nice stadium, but that is about it. I will continue to pass until Angelos sells the team.

My unsolicited 2 cents.

TD

PS Sammy, Steelers are in the Super Bowl, you still have one glorious week left to enjoy that one!!!!!!!!! Just kidding before you get all worked up.

 

[sammy719]

The Orioles died when Ripken retired. Of course I am a Pirates fan first, we have been dead since Barry Bonds left, I still miss Parker, Stargell, Garner, Madlock, etc from when I was a kid. Oh it has been a drought. I use to respect the Orioles when Ripken was there, he was from my hometown, know the family well, but once he retired, my interest is zero in them. Angelos stinks and going to a game there is god awful.

At least the Pirates try to please their fans, it is always worth my trip out there, a truly great stadium and experience. As for the O's, nice stadium, but that is about it. I will continue to pass until Angelos sells the team.

My unsolicited 2 cents.

TD

, S Sammy, Steelers are in the Super Bowl, you still have one glorious week left to enjoy that one!!!!!!!!! Just kidding before you get all worked up.

Tdubel, like I said before your opinion doesn't much concern me, somebody that love Pa. so much why don't you just move there??
whether Angelos owns the orioles or whoever I'm gonna pull for them threw thick or thin times, yea been alotta thin times lately, but I'm loyal to my teams to the end, you should know that about us Marylanders,

p.s. unfortunitly I think the steelers will run away with this game by the 4th quarter and win, but if I'm wrong I'll be happy as a clam!!! go cards...Sammy

 

[lancer]

Gotta say as an Orioles fan, I support them even while Angelos (who IMO bites as an owner) remains the owner. I agree the O's haven't been much to look at since Cal retired but if they would stop giving away their pitching talent (Mussina, Bedard, etc.) maybe they could at least compete. In D.C. a similar ownership problem could be emerging. The Lerner's, with a new stadium and such, will not spend money to improve a terrible team. Fan goodwill is only going to last for a short time (already eroding) so the Lerner's better stop being cheap about developing the team or they will wake up one April with no fan base left. -- lancer

 

[jazzeum]

As a new team with new ownership, I find it incredible that they won't spend money. It's a relatively wealthy area so the money should be there.

I don't know if you know this Al but I was at the last game at RFK that the Senators played back in the early 70s. That was an amazing game, never to be forgotten.

 

[tdubel]

Tdubel, like I said before your opinion doesn't much concern me, somebody that love Pa. so much why don't you just move there??
whether Angelos owns the orioles or whoever I'm gonna pull for them threw thick or thin times, yea been alotta thin times lately, but I'm loyal to my teams to the end, you should know that about us Marylanders,

p.s. unfortunitly I think the steelers will run away with this game by the 4th quarter and win, but if I'm wrong I'll be happy as a clam!!! go cards...Sammy

Sammy, sorry you have so much sour grapes, I don't think I ever said anything about abandoning them, I just stated my opinion. I respected Ripken a ton, think he is one of the greatest players to ever be in the game, morally and physically. I believe my opinion was on Angelos and I believe it is a popular one.

You may be a loyal Marylander, but as a College Park Graduate and member of the Maryland Football family, you are one of the few. A couple of more so so seasons, Fridge will be gone, stadium will be empty and look much like an Oriole game, sad state of affairs.

I really do find it hilarious how Pittsburgh teams get under your skin, guess its because in every big game in every sport, Baltimore has rarely beaten them. It is just a sporting event, I enjoy my teams whether they win or lose, it is just entertainment to me.

TD

 

[lancer]

Hey Brad, you are a lucky man. I had to watch the 'Nats last game on t.v. Wish I had been there as the 'Nats were a fun team to watch, even with their awful ownership, that moron, Short. I did get to see Mantle in his last game at D.C. (RFK) stadium. Good times. -- lancer

 

[Louis Badolato]

So let's hear some pre-season picks . . . whose gonna win it all?

On paper the two best teams are the Yankees and the Cubs, but the best team doesn't always win the pennant. I don't know about the National League, as recently a team comes out of the woodwork every year that you wouldn't necessarily expect to win the pennant . . . like Colorado a couple of years ago or the Phillies last year. Who is the dark horse that will upset the Cubbies applecart this year? If the Giants take a run at Manny, with their pitching they could win the NL Pennant.

I freely admit I am biased, as a lifelong Yankees fan, who expects them to win it all every year, but with their starting pitching from top to bottom being Sabathia, Wang, Burnett, Chamberlain and Petitte, a solid bullpen ending in Mo Rivera, and a starting line up of Damon (LF), Jeter (SS), A-Rod (3B), Texiera (1B), Posada (C), Matsui (DH), Nady (RF), Cano (2B) and either Swisher or Cabrera (CF), playing in an exciting new stadium, they are going to win it all this year. I frankly expect a trade involving Swisher and/or Melky for a solid Center Fielder to make them even better.

So my prediction: Yankees over the Giants (if they get Manny) in 5.

 

[tdubel]

Louis,
I don't begrudge your Yanks at all, they do what they need to do to put the stars in place, just got to hope for alignment!

I have no idea on predictions this year, but the Yanks on paper look good.

Tom

 

[lancer]

IMO the Yanks are all but locked in for the pennant and W.S. title and with their off season moves, they better be. I do not see how any other team will beat them if all stay healthy and have even average seasons. That being said, it is a long season. If the O's can't win it, then the Yanks are my choice. The National league is a toss up. I see no reason the Phillies can't stay in it. Cubs look good but they are the Cubs and therefore will self-destruct as they have for 100 years. Should be another great season of usual surprises and disappointments. Come on April! -- lancer

 

[Warrior]

Hard to think about baseball at this point as we just got clobbered here with another storm; today is only January 29th and we have already passed last years total snowfall and we're not even into February, which is traditionally the snowiest month.

Funny you guys are talking about the Orioles and the Pirates; as a kid, I was a huge Pirates fan, Roberto Clemente was my idol growing up. Those Pirate teams of the 70's were loaded, that 79 team with Parker, Stargell (pops), Tekulve, "scrap iron" Phil Garner, etc, etc is among my all time favorite teams, "We are family".......they had great teams in the 90's too until the ownership failed to sign many of them and Bonds went off to the Giants. I am also a Giants fan and would love to see them get Manny. So in the NL, it's the Pirates and Giants through thick and thin.

In the AL, I am a Red Sox fan and also an Orioles fan; my Dad loved the Orioles of the late sixties and early to mid 70's. He was not much of a Sox fan, he's got his reasons and they are valid ones. Imagine how tough it was for me as a teenager in 79 with two of my favorite teams in the World Series, my Dad was not a happy guy after that one.

Those Oriole teams were stacked, incredible talent, the Robinsons, Powell, Belanger, Palmer, Mcgregor, etc, etc, staggering talent really. Iv'e been to their ballpark many times and it's a nice place IMO.

As far as predictions, I'll go with the Yankees and the Dodgers if they can resign Manny.

The Yankees are WS locks considering they spent the gross national product of China on their latest batch of free agents. Now I know why Sammy was so upset about big market teams vs small market teams, what they spent is a total joke.

Speaking of jokes, I have, have, HAVE to buy Mr Torres new book; "A-Fraud", man is that priceless................

 

[Spitfrnd]

As a long time Orioles fan (1966) I have no doubt that they will crash and burn once again having done nothing to improve their pitching other than dumping D. Cabrera. Where are McNally, Palmer, Cuellar, and Dobson when they are needed? -- lancer

I go back a few more years and while we are at it how about Brooks and Frank, Boog, Milt, Hoyt, Davey, Mark and even Gus; and for the modern era, of course Cal?

 

[tdubel]

I go back a few more years and while we are at it how about Brooks and Frank, Boog, Milt, Hoyt, Davey, Mark and even Gus; and for the modern era, of course Cal?

Agree on the Orioles of the 1970s, early 80s, even as a Pirates fan, it was hard not to like Eddie Murray living in Maryland, he was first class too along with Cal, and Lowenstein and Roenicke, they were fun to watch too and as a card collector, Palmer, McNally, Cuellar, Boog. At least one great thing about Camden Yards is Boog's Pit Beef Barbeque! It is a very nice park, just (IMO) a shame what the owner has done to the team for me. He is just a cantankerous, unlikeable fellow. At least I get FSN Pittsburgh and can see the Pirates and their highlights/replays (really in the last 18 years, the "lolights"!)

However, I agree with Warrior, Louis, et al, it is the Yanks to lose in the AL.

Tom

 

[Capitolron]

I agree with Tom - going to a game in Pittsburg is a real treat. I have done a few times and stayed at the Hilton across the river. It is a Really neat baseball experience if you can go - the best thing of all is some of their primo seats are just $35.00 each !! - For a Washington DC guy thats like 50% off !

My NATIONALS will do what they do best - so a little promise in the early season and then tank! But, I LOVE THEM ANYWAY.

And I do not want a winning season this season anyway - with a bad economy and a bad team - my season tickets will improve GREATLY !

I am a NL - Nats Fan and a AL - Orioles Fan.

I use to go to Baltimore all the time and watch the O's when DC did not have a team. Still do - not as much anymore. I have had the pleasure to sit in the Owners Box a few times and eat of the CHINA with the SILVER SERVINGS - LOL - I kid you not ! They have a very sweet box there. Also had the opportunity to spend some time with the O's Staff behind the scenes and see how a game is run - very interesting to see the business of Baseball.

 

[theBaron]

I think the Nationals'll still make things interesting in the division, as will the Marlins. The NL East is always tough.

 

[jazzeum]

Picks are not really worth much but here goes:

NL West - Dodgers (don't know why people like the Giants; they didn't do much except for signing Randy).

NL Central - Cubs

NL East - Phillies (I see some people picking the Mets, possibly because the bullpen is better and that was the difference last year but Phillies know how to win).

AL East - Red Sox (not completely sold on Yankees outfield or relief pitching)

AL Central - Cleveland

AL West - Angels

World Series - Cubs and Cleveland (might as well go out on a limb!).

 

[maddadicus]

Picks are not really worth much but here goes:

NL West - Dodgers (don't know why people like the Giants; they didn't do much except for signing Randy).

NL Central - Cubs

NL East - Phillies (I see some people picking the Mets, possibly because the bullpen is better and that was the difference last year but Phillies know how to win).

AL East - Red Sox (not completely sold on Yankees outfield or relief pitching)

AL Central - Cleveland

AL West - Angels

World Series - Cubs and Cleveland (might as well go out on a limb!).

Spoken like a Yankee hating MET fan!..Michael

 

[eborris]

Tim SToddard , now there's a trivia question, he was a member of a state high school basketball championship team, a NCAA basketball championship team and he was on a world series winner.